We Are The Champions

Finally, finally; the moment we have thought and dreamt about for most of the summer has arrived. No quips this week. Didcot are Cherwell Division 6 champions. Sounds good doesn't it.

We travelled to Thame knowing that a win would guarantee the title. I was more excited and nervous than normal on a Saturday, but confident that we would do it.

The Thame pitch had been soaked in a rain storm the day before and was begging to be bowled on. We have not done things easily this season so I decided to lose the toss just to be awkward. Batting first on this wicket was not easy, the ball stopped and came through slowly. Many of us got out driving too early.

What is important is that three of us made significant contributions to get us the right side of 200, just. Matt scored 30 odd and looked back in form until one stopped on him. Naughtie dabbed and nurdled to 39 (NOT OUT, WOULD YOU BELIEVE). Another extremely valuable knock in his specialist finishing position. The rock and spine of our innings came from Lord Brockett, batting at four he nearly carried his bat on the way to his maiden first XI half century. A superb watchful, mature knock with acceleration at the right moment. On a better pitch he would have made a ton. Well done Bris.

After what can only be described as a tea that suited the fielding side we started again knowing that 10 wickets were needed to take the title. We started well by dismissing danger man Steve Beard cheaply, our confidence was high. Lobster and The Don threatened but couldn't get the breakthrough. The pitch was dry now and playing like a dream and Thame's 14 year old opener was playing beautifully. 10 for 1 became 119 for two. With plenty of time left, we were struggling a bit. We had Laurel and Hardy on, who have often been so deadly in tandem this year. The Caretaker bowled well, but couldn't force the breakthrough, so time for a change. A bit of Pritch has changed games a number of times this year. His pace was searing but the ball constantly found the gaps.

What to do next? I considered the options and decided to give The Judge one more over. A superb catch from Lobster Jones at short midwicket meant that The Judge would get another over and that we were back in the game. If only we could get the opener we would be in charge again. We got the opener next over. Some late away swing (possibly) from Pritch and a brilliant salmon like leap from The Caretaker together with Inspector Gadget arms snared him. Game on now. Our body language changed, we were hunting as a pack now. Two wickets in an over from The Judge and Thame were 150 for 6.

A second spell from The Don brought instant results with two wickets in his two overs, catches from Brockett and Pritch taking care of things. Jules took his fifth and we were one wicket away from the title and Thame were 10 minutes from a draw.

The Judge hasn't turned a ball all season and relies on his charisma and guile to earn his wickets. Or so we thought. He floated up his last ball of the over, it looked no different to the rest. Pitching on middle and going straight on, that's what the batsman and the rest of us thought. It bit, it bounced, it fizzed, and it turned, from leg to off for heavens sake. He had bowled a leggie and pitched it perfectly. Off stump knocked back, we celebrated wildly. I thought about kissing The Judge. Bernard beat me to it and I didn't have the heart to interrupt their delicate embrace.

We drank warm champagne and sang our victory song.

What a fabulous day.

Didcot II V Dinton III

Dinton won the toss and elected to bat on a good batting wicket. Didcot bowlers did not have much impact on the visitors and they scored 241 runs for the loss of 6 wickets in their 47 overs. Vishane Perera and Dave Allen took 2 wickets each, Henry Latimer one and one run out.

It did not seam to be impossible target to get on a very good batting track but as usual top order batting did not get to a good start and Didcot was on the back foot again! The only highlight was Connor Morrison’s unbeaten 86. Didcot was 174 for 7 at the end of play.

Dinton III 15 points Didcot II 8 points

After the cancellation against Oxford the previous week, the first victory was getting a team of 11 players on the pitch against Bicester. Our problems started when we realised that Bicester were seeking revenge for the game previous in the season where we had scored 304 against them thanks to Clive and Raj. Our team was virtually unrecognisable, with just Modi, Grain, Hall and Broughton remaining from that side. Whereas we had replaced the players with inexperienced U-13s and members doing the club, Bicester appeared to have called up their resources to ensure that they didn’t get the same treatment.

However, with such an inexperienced team, stand-in captain Hall was concerned that the game might be all over by 2:30 if we batted first, so inserted the opposition. This was mainly due to the whole raison d’être of the fourth team, to give the youngsters experience.

We started brightly, with Pritesh and Travis sharing the new ball, but once spinners Maha and Jack Broughton came on the openers were set and proceeded to hit the ball to all corners, or alternatively milked the singles if the field was set back. 51 from 9 became 73 from 12 and 96 from 14, before medium pacers from Alex Scanlan and Jonny Meardon put the brakes on the advance. Too little, too late, and both of the openers retired not out for centuries, Phil Warson (once Northants 2nds keeper) made 138 and James Head 105, both recorded as not outs. That brought in Megan Burton and a slowing of the scoring, and finally Pritesh, coming on for his second spell after injuring his shoulder earlier in the game, bowled Payne for 15 – the first legitimate wicket at 244. Late additions to the bowling line up Jonathan Meardon and Benji Faloona, however, showed why the fourth team is a good thing for the club, each bowling a spell of good medium pace. These two are both Under 13s, and given the right development could be challenging in higher teams in 3 or 4 years. The standout player, however, was Travis Green. Again an U-13. Given the responsibility of the new ball, and then also coming back for his remaining 4 overs at the end, he bowled line and length with pace and accuracy and was unlucky not to take any wickets. Figures of 8-1-37-0 were excellent in those circumstances.

After much nagging from Jack and Nick, Hall brought himself on to remind them again why he doesn’t bowl any more. The only time the ball went straight was when the hair was let down and he got angry with himself. Not a sight that should be witnessed by delicate personalities, and certainly against the spirit of Clubmark, if not common decency.

As for the rest of the bowling, Jack showed signs of the form from earlier in the season, and Pritesh shouldered the responsibility of being the senior seamer well, returning figures of 1-43 from 8 overs. Maha had the batsmen in trouble on occasions but could not get consistency.

Bicester struggled to pass Didcot’s 304 from the away match due to Travis and Ben conceding only singles from the 42^nd and 43^rd overs, but as soon as they passed the total they declared at the end of the over. Just enough time for Ben Faloona to take his first senior wicket, and for club colossus David Slade to take his final slip catch (although he doesn’t know that he’s playing next week as well…).

Didcot’s batting then lacked the adhesiveness that was required to fight out the draw. Hall opened in the absence of other candidates, and made his first duck of the league season, cutting a ball into the air. Form, form, why have thou deserted me. Oh, and decision making. Alex Scanlan was unlucky to be run out going for a second run that wasn’t there. Pritesh looked good for 10 before being given lbw, Nick and Jonny flattered to deceive. Hope then lay with Travis and John Brisland, both of whom played good shots in a 6^th wicket partnership that took us to a level of respectability, and laid the basis for getting past our previous low score. Indeed, two edged fours for Faloona and a driven 2 from Dave Slade took us past our second lowest score. Allout for 57 beats the 46 (Cumnor) and 54 (Chearsley) earlier in the season.

David was last out, bowed by Megan Burton, on the very ground that he started his senior career a few years back.

On the face of it, a thrashing. Losing by 253 runs is not easy and we were not competitive, but on a weekend when about 40 players were unavailable, I believe we showed that there are plenty of green shoots in the youth development of the club, and that from this exposure to senior cricket, confidence and skills will develop.

All part of the season in the fourths!

Back to Simon for the last two games.

Eat The Rich

Which two people would you least like to be stuck in a lift with? A question posed to me on the drive home from the Field of Dreams last night. I won't reveal my answer to protect the delicate feelings and fragile ego's of those selected. I will reveal that Rick Waller was a close third though.

Perhaps you want to debate this controversial subject when you are having supper tonight. Or perhaps not. You decide, it's a free world.

Yesterday we had the privilege of welcoming Bourton Vale to the FoD on a muggy, but oddly breezy day. Skip won the toss and invited Vale to have a bat on another belter of a batting track. We were determined not to let Vale get off to the same storming start they enjoyed earlier in the season.

We didn't, and had them 4 for 3 inside 4 overs. The Don taking two with fine catches from Pritch and Tee Kay with Matt clean bowling the third. Happy days, but surely not representative of this pitch? Our fielding was sharp and our mood positive after Pritch took the fourth with the score on 31. This wicket saw The Judge take what may be the catch of the season. Using his new approach of walking in at gully he took a stormer that made Paul Collingwood look like an average middle order batsman who only scores runs intermittently but is slightly better than Rob Key. It was the crowning moment of a great display in this position.

Vale's middle order rallied well, riding a bit of luck but mainly hitting some below average bowling to the boundary a little too regularly they clawed back to 140, still for 4, with 17 overs left. A wicket for The Judge and another for Crabbie slowed progress a bit. Our heads did not drop throughout this, despite having to dive into the brambles a little too frequently to retrieve balls. The end came quickly as Vale went from 214 for 6 to 220 all out, Pritch picking up another couple of wickets and Crabbie knocked back the stumps of 10 and 11 in consecutive balls. Hat trick next week? Matt bowled through the pain barrier again, ending with 4 for 59. Further jug evasion from the Yorkshireman.

As we left the field I felt positive, 220 is only a par score at the Field of Dreams and we had won every game we had chased since the season opener at Oxford. We would have to bat well though as 221 would be our highest second innings score this season.

Faced with an intimidating target we needed to stay positive but refrain from recklessness; it is all about pace and momentum. Get your eye in and only then move on to the more ambitious, expansive areas.

I started with a ham and mustard sandwich, the forward defensive of the cricket tea; moved on to a slice of quiche (leg glance); a sausage roll (back foot drive); chicken tikka piece (cover drive); mini pasty (lofted hoik towards cow); ending with a slab of pavlova (reverse sweep for six). Incidentally on quizzing Jose on his return to the ground in the evening he mentioned that he always starts his tea with a ham sandwich. He then throws it in the bin as he doesn't like ham and feasts on pasties.

Anyway, after another stupendous tea courtesy of Dad Cook and some Cornish elves we started the chase.

The top three got in, got a few and then got out. Crabbie and Pritch didn't trouble the scorers and we were 86 for 5 in the 26th over. We were about to step on a banana skin. Yet again two new heroes stepped up, determined to 'be the man' that won the game for us. They cheekily skipped over the banana skin and powered us on to 202. Bernard and Cookie scored 116 runs at more than seven an over to transform the game. Bernard was unlucky to be bowled off his pads for a gritty 34, easily his best innings of the season so far.

Cookie played one of the best innings of the season from anyone in the side and capped it off with his maiden senior ton. A fantastic, mature, cultured innings that combined brutal front foot driving with cuts, pulls and even a few wanky dabs. It had it all and drew justifiable praise from everyone lucky enough to witness it. I am sure it will be the first of many, and hopefully not the last this season.

We won by only 2 wickets in the end as the self destruct gene re-emerged briefly. The Judge finished it in style with three boundaries from his first three balls.

Another 25 points combined with good results for us elsewhere means that we travel to Thame next Saturday knowing that a win guarantees us the title. We don't need any greater motivation than this and I cannot wait for the game to start..............

Twyford II V Didcot II

Didcot managed only 130 runs in their 47 overs Prasad contributing 31 and Conner 20 and at the end 16 not out by Sam Couldrick.

Twyford reached the target with the loss of 5 wickets. Dan Alderson pick of the bowling with good pace and bounce, unfortunate not to pick-up more wickets.

Be The Man

Back to the business of cricket this week after the rain last saturday. Our visitors, Horspath had been top earlier in the season and were not to be taken lightly.

Winning the toss on a damp, but drying pitch was perhaps more important than normal. I lost it. Bugger.

A slightly makeshift team was shorn of Shaun, and the Laurel and Hardy of spin for the day. One was at Center Parcs undoubtedly honing his archery skills or whatever it is one does in Center Parcs, the other was in the middle of a tour of the bits of Europe famed for their lack of culinary skills and rigid adhesion to order, the Caretaker was last seen waiting for Big Wednesday, no doubt surrounded by a thousand other Caretaker lookalikes. I hope the surf was sick Jordan, dude.

No surprise that we were asked to bat on a sticky dog. Didcot 2009 laughs in the face of sticky dogs and rose to the challenge. Vish and Lats strode to the wicket with the skip's advice to "not cut in the first half hour in case you drag one onto your stumps" ringing in their ears. Lats played a square cut, you can guess the rest. One down. Crabbie hobbled out to the wicket, batting for the first time in four weeks he said he felt a bit rusty. He looked a bit rusty. Rusty or not he was out to a shocking LBW decision. Hit on the upper thigh! He is nearly 8ft tall! Get your subscription checked!

Tee Kay announced his arrival with two bludgeoned boundaries then promptly became becalmed, his reputation as the Beast preceding him. Throughout these diversions Jimmy Perera was doing what he does best. Another fine knock, during which he never looked troubled. He ran out of energy at 64, a fine century was there for the taking. Eat porridge for breakfast Jimmy and the ton is yours.

Cookie played around a straight one, another LBW. All of a sudden a good start had become rather average at 120 odd for 5. Veterans Broughton and Pritchard were at the crease and they delivered again. Adding 70 in 12 overs changed the game again as we headed towards 200. Prich finished with 43, perhaps not his most fluent innings of the season, but a very important one. A few biffs to the boundary at the end and we were going to have to defend 226.

A fine tea from Yorkshire showed just how much modern Britain has changed. No batter puddings with gravy. Home made chicken tikka (on cocktail sticks, no less) and salmon sandwiches. Geoffrey would no doubt think it was dreadful. We all thought it was great and tucked in.

Openers Crabbie and debutant Jim Taylor (Cookie's godfather, apparently) bowled with control and movement both taking a wicket. Don's debut Cherwell wicket to a fine catch from Brockett.

Lat's bowled with a good loop and control of length and picked up a couple of wickets to keep the pressure on. Horspath were never quite up with the run rate but had wickets in hand so were always in with a chance. Enter Mr Pritchard. He took the crucial two wickets that swung it back in our favour. Not enough time or runs to force a win for either side meant a draw was the right result. Cricket was the winner in a good, evenly fought game. 13 points takes us half a step closer to the points we need.

We all need to up our performance for the visit of Bourton Vale next week and be determined that we will be the man to make the difference that brings us another win.

Wallingford II V Didcot II

A bad day at work! Yep after tea it all fell apart.

Didcot won the toss and invited Wallingford to bat first. Everything went to plan to start with; we had a target to get them out for 150 we just about did that. Wallingford all out 154 in the 42^nd over with Viraj Perera taking 4 wickets, Rob Keat 3, followed by Dan Alderson 2 and Stewart Green 1 all bowling well and fielding and catching coming together. The nightmare began after tea; loosing the first 5 wickets; Prasad, Rob Kenworthy, Viraj, Connor and Dan all back in the pavilion for 12 runs in 12 overs! Ross Fryatt (26) and Shaun Stewart (14) showing some resistance and building a partnership and using up the overs, but after the departure of Ross and Stewart we had still a glimpse of a draw with Jose Taboada 25, but could not resist the temptation and was caught at the covers with just 8 balls to go!

Didcot 3rds

Didcot hung on during their game of Alpine cricket against a much stronger Brackley 2's.

Winning the toss we elected to put the opposition and after two quick wickets Brackley settled into two strong partnerships (100,80). Star for Brackley was George Stapleton, home from his gap year just two days before, he finished unbeaten on 91 with Brackley reaching 227-4 on a slow pitch, with a large, slow outfield.

Didcot soon realised we didn't have the fire power to chase and set ourselves a target of 150-3 at the end to minimise their points advantage.At 120-3 after 41 overs (and 35 minutes left) we were cruising. AND THEN, back to Didcot self destruct mode. 12 overs bowled in the next 35 minutes and we closed on 133-9 with George Stapleton taking 3-15 off seven overs.

Santosh, Mike Slade and Clive all got into the 20's before getting themselves out.

Travis Green and Jonathan Mearden batted well and held up Brackley for decent periods of time.

Mike Slade deserves special mention for his excellent spell up and across the Alpine slopes.

Didcot 4ths

Didcot IV put up a sterling performance but faded to lose a game that we should have won. Thame III batted first, and against Humza and Alex Rodman they were 9 for 2 from 10 naggingly accurate overs. Neil Spears bowled well, taking a wicket and a catch, while Jack Broughton continued a dip in form at the other end. The off spin department of the fourths, however, looks safe in the hands of Tom Spears, who put down a marker for the new all rounder with 2 well taken wicket. Maybe stand-in captain Hall should have listened to him a couple of weeks ago when he wanted to bowl. Simon also bowled frugally, Ehsen bowled a couple of overs without much alarm, and then the opening bowlers came back for the final spells to keep the runs down. Only some lusty hitting at the end took Thame to respectability at 146 for 8. The wickets were shared around, two each for Humza and Tom, with a stunning run out also credited to Humza.

All in all, one of our best performances with the ball, and proving that we are getting more competitive as the season goes on. Tea was enjoyed greatly as this was a target that we could chase down.

Neil Spears and Simon Birkinshaw opened. Neil was unluckily out quickly, and was followed by Nick Grain. After that, Tom Spears and Simon started setting the foundation for a good score. Simon played his best innings of the season for the club, thrashing balls to all corners (well, lots to cow and one cut four to disprove the comments that he only had one shot) for 45, before “finger of death” Hall struck again with an lbw decision. Gordon Latimer and Ehsen Nadeem hung around without adding much to the score, so with 5 wickets down at 68 we were in trouble. Hall came in with no specific instructions as they really don’t make any difference. Tom was out for another promising innings of 24 as Thame’s bowling attack (made up of accurate 13 year olds all at 4 feet tall) continued to make regular inroads. Despite Jonathan hitting 5 fours and a six (all to the same flag on the boundary at cow corner) in his 29 not out, the other end was a rotating gate made up of a line of ducks until last man Dave Grain (batting with a badly bruised finger) was given out lbw.

We need more adhesiveness at the crease, but although we lost, it was a good game and there were some very creditable performances in defeat. Humza, Alex and Tom bowled well, Simon and Tom batted well, and the fielding was generally excellent.

The composition of the team is proof of the aims of the team – 6 under 18s, 3 parents of youth players, plus Simon and Jonathan. Adds to the development of the club youth players, the development of the social aspect and we’re on the verge of getting some results.

Four more games, including Bicester at home who we scored 304 against earlier in the season. There are possibilities!